Rugby: Old truths about tough tours in South Africa still stand

How things change in the Super 14.

When the Hurricanes departed for the South African segment of their itinerary they had ridden out some tough times and were unbeaten.

Cohesion in the pack had improved under new skipper Andrew Hore while there also seemed a greater maturity about the backline play.

Now they are listing midtable, smacked over by the Cheetahs then the Stormers at the weekend and heading for what looms as a final tour duffing by the undefeated Bulls.

"Perhaps we can force an upset," Hore wistfully offered when asked what lay ahead in Pretoria.

The Hurricanes' latest 37-13 demise against the Stormers was even more disappointing as they fielded 10 All Blacks with Conrad Smith and Tamati Ellison returning to assist the three-quarters.

Ellison muffed more catches than he normally does in a year, Smith was slipped on defence while fellow All Black Ma'a Nonu was also out of sorts.

Those troubles were accentuated when fullback Cory Jane was knocked out in an ugly collision with Sireli Naqelevuki and removed from the game and probably the next.

Between them, the Hurricanes and the Highlanders have lost five games in the Republic and Highlanders skipper Jamie Mackintosh was worried his side "was staring down the barrel of 100 points" at one stage in their meeting with the Bulls.

They were without curfew-breakers Adam Thomson and Michael Hobbs, but regrouped to rein in some of the carnage as Israel Dagg crossed for a rare competition hat-trick.

Since the Chiefs offered hope for New Zealand sides travelling to South Africa with their two opening victories, no New Zealanders have entered the winners' circle over there.

But none have struggled like the Lions and Sharks, who both have two matches left to play in New Zealand and have yet to find a victory this season.

The Sharks have shown glimpses of form, but plumbers have more chance of retrieving Lara Bingle's engagement ring than the Lions cresting the victory dias.

Their president Kevin de Klerk is travelling to New Zealand to support the side, but he may need oxygen as well after the Lions play the Crusaders this weekend.

Former Blues first five-eighths Carlos Spencer played his 100th Super match for the Lions on Friday, but there was little to celebrate when they were flogged 73-12 by the Waratahs.

Earlier on the same night, his All Black successor Daniel Carter kicked 16 points to vault ahead of former teammate Andrew Mehrtens and remain just shy of 1000 Super points and tucked in behind the record-holding Stirling Mortlock, who has 1030 points.

The Crusaders were too strong in the set-piece and too collected for the Chiefs, showing their attacking clout in the first spell before muscling up as the weather interrupted what had been a rousing start to the fifth round.

Blues skipper Keven Mealamu will play his 100th game for the franchise when his side returns from their bye to host the Brumbies on Friday at Eden Park. Both teams have yet to find a real flow to their work.